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Bangkok has been battered by severe flooding after days of torrential rain, with around 40 people reported dead and authorities declaring a disaster across all 50 districts of the Thai capital.
Thousands of residents have been forced into more than 230 temporary shelters, while several areas remain submerged. Some victims drowned, while others died from accidental electrocution.
Parts of Bangkok received around 300mm of rain in just two days — roughly equivalent to half of London’s average rainfall over six months. The downpour overwhelmed the city’s drainage network and turned roads and neighbourhoods into stagnant lakes.
In Khlong Chan in northeastern Bangkok, residential buildings have been surrounded by muddy floodwater, with only the roofs of some parked cars visible. Even as water levels began to fall in some areas, residents continued to face foul-smelling waste and debris.
Bangkok sits on the floodplain of the Chao Phraya River and relies heavily on canals, pumps and barriers to drain excess water. But rapid urban development and the narrowing or disappearance of canals have made it harder for the city to cope with intense rainfall.
The flooding has disrupted transport, schools and airport operations. Many commuters have been unable to travel, while some residents have resorted to inflatable pools and other makeshift means to move through flooded neighbourhoods.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered authorities to closely monitor the situation, with more heavy rain forecast in the coming days.
Climate experts say warming temperatures can increase the amount of moisture held in the atmosphere, raising the potential for more intense rainfall. However, scientists caution that it is too early to attribute this particular event directly to climate change.
A low-pressure system associated with unusually warm waters in the South China Sea has been cited as a key factor behind the heavy rainfall, while the current El Niño pattern may also have influenced regional weather conditions.
Neighbouring Myanmar has also been affected by the severe weather, with flooding and landslides causing deaths and disrupting road links.
Authorities in Bangkok are continuing to operate drainage pumps at full capacity, but officials say it could take several more days for floodwater to recede fully from some parts of the city.
Source: The Guardian